Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-05
A SURGEONS LIFE.
A Paye from the Experience OF the
k1tner Of Surgery I'm his Day.


From the autobiography Of the Late Dr.. aross
nave Always held that 1t is impossible for any
man 10 oe great surgeon II he is destitute ever
In an nconsderable degree, OF the inner feelings
OF our mature, have often lain awake for hour.
the night before an important operation, and
suffered great mental distress for days after Il
was over, until was certain that my patient was
OUT OF Danger. do not think 1t is possible for g
Grammar 70 feel much worse the night before his
execution IMAM surgeon when he knows that
upon ms sklu and attention must depend the fate
OF valuable citizen, husband, father, mother, Of
chllo. surgery under such circumstances is q
terrible taskmaster, feeding like vulture upon
mans vltals. 1t Is surprising that any surgeon In
large practlce should ever attain to q respectable
old age 80 great are the wear and tear Of mind and
The world has seen many sad picture. 1 will
draw one OF the surgeon. It is midday; the sun II
DragnI ana beautiful; all nature is redolent Of JOY
best, and all, apparently, is peace and happiness
Wltnln ana without. In large house, almost over
hanging this street so full Of life and gayety, lies
sweetest and loveliest of her SEX confiding and
anecuonate Wife and the adored mother OF nu
ero ous c9lioren the subject Of rright1u disease
jaw, If not Of a stiil more important par
o OF nsr oody; In an adjoining room is The
sulgeUn Mtn MS assistants spreading out hi,
the impending operation. He assigns to each
MS appropriate place One administers chlOro
form; another takes charge Of the limb; one
screws down the tourniouet upon the principal
artery, and another holds himself in readiness tC
IO!lo" Ine Knile with his sponge. The flaps are
and the huge wound appropriated. The woman
Is pale and ghastly, the pulse hardly perceptible
tne SKID wet with clammy perspiratlon, the voice
husky, the sight 1ndistinct. Some one whispers
into the ear OF the busy surgeon. "The patient
rear, IS oylng." RestOratives are administered
tne Pulse gradually rises, and after few hours OF
aofln
me poor woman was only faint from the joint
lnnuence OF the anasthetic, shock, and loss OF
Dlooa. An assistant, kind OF sentinel. is placed
as guard over her, with Instructions to watch
ner Win the closest care, and 10 send word
the moment the slightest change for the worse Is
seen.
The surgeon goes about his business visits
other patients on the way, and at length long
after the usual hour, he sits down, worried and
eXnaussed 10 nus cold and comfortless meal, with
NOUN almost as dry and voice as husky as bis
patents. He eats mechanically, exchanges
hardly word with any member OF his family,
and sullenly retres to his study to prescribe ror
his patients-never, during all this time, forget
ting the poor mutilated bject he left few hours
ago. DE Is about to lie down to get moments
repose after the severe toll OF the day. when sud-
denly ne hears LOUD ring of the bell, and a ser
want, GREATNESS With excitement, Gegs his i'm
mediate presence at the sick chamber With the
exclamation ''They think Mrs. - is dying
He hurr1es to the scene with rapid pace and anX-
1ous feeling. The stump is OF a crimson color and
the patient lies In profound swoon. An artery
n--S S"ouSnAy given way, tue cAuaustiou Is Ca
IRENE, cord1als and stlmuants are at once brought
Into requisitton, the dressings are removed and
the recusant vessel is secured.
The vital current GIBBS and flows reaction is
still more tardy than before, and 1t is not until
late hour Of the night tnat the surgeon, literally
worn out In mind and body, retires 10 his home In
Search OF repose. Does he sleep? He tries, but he
cannot close his eyes. His mind Is with his pa
ttent; ne hears every foOJstep upon the pavement
under his window, and is in momentary expecta-
ton OF the ringing OF the night bell. He Is dis-
turbeo by the widest fanc1eS he sees the most
terrific OBJECTS, and, he rises early in the morn
Ing TO hasten to his patients chamber, he feels
that he has been cheated OF the rest OF which he
stood so much in need. Is this picture ove:drawn?
have Sat for 1t thousand times, and there is not
an educated, conscientious surgeon that will not
certify to It's accuracy.